The Citizen asked the Green, Liberal, NDP and Progressive Conservative candidates from each Ottawa riding to write a short essay about why they’re running for the job — and why voters should choose them on June 12. Here are the candidates who responded for Ottawa Centre.

Jennifer McKenzie

JENNIFER MCKENZIE, NDP

I work hard for the people of Ottawa Centre and have a proven track record of delivering results.

Over the past eight years as your school trustee and for four years as the School Board Chair, I have met or exceeded my election promises. The school board has been transformed from a low performing to a high performing internationally-recognized board and we manage a budget of over $700 million while running a small surplus each year.

I have worked tirelessly in partnership with community leaders to ensure that provincial capital funding is diverted to downtown schools where none had been before since amalgamation and in particular to secure funding for the rebuild of Broadview Public School. Services to special needs students and those needing English as a Second Language and indeed all students has been significantly improved.

Environmental issues and Ontario Municipal Board reform would receive my immediate attention. The OMB tripled the amount of developable farmland around Ottawa by overruling a city council decision in 2011. I would ensure that good environmental and consultative practices are followed through all decisions including the next phase of the Ottawa River cleanup and transit plan.

There has been a lot of waste and mismanagement and politically based decision making at Queen’s Park in recent years. By contrast, I offer a proven track record of delivering results for Ottawa Centre.

Kevin O’Donnell

KEVIN O’DONNELL, GREEN

Can I convince the half of you that vote to vote for me and the other half that you should even bother?

I ask for your vote because we both care about the environment, the economy, and the future. I will be fair and say my opponents also care about these things – but doesn’t something always seem to get in the way of progress?

Our democracy has been allowed to deteriorate. Liberals prorogue like Conservatives. Conservatives take corporate money like Liberals. The NDP shift right and abandon their roots. All in the pursuit of a majority and power.

I have no such ambitions. I cannot properly describe how honoured I would be to sit in the furthest corner of Queen’s Park. I would not hold power but I would hold sway. I would be accountable only to you, the residents of Ottawa Centre, and I would demand better from every other MPP.

I would demand better because we all care about the environment, the economy, and the future. I ask for your vote because if you entrust me with it, I believe we’ll see some progress.

ROB DEKKER, PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE

On June 12th Ontario is faced with the most critical election in our provinces history and the choice is crystal clear. On one hand you can choose more of the same – scandal, lies, police investigations and waste of taxpayer dollars or you can choose change, I believe it is time for change.

Ontario has lost its way under the McGuinty/Wynne regime, they have doubled our debt, our hydro bills are skyrocketing and the confidence has been lost insofar as believing this government will do what they say they will do.

Ontario and Ottawa Centre deserve better, we deserve an honest and transparent government that respects taxpayers and a government that is prepared to make the tough choices in order to return to balanced budgets. We deserve a government that is focused on bringing good well-paying jobs and a stable economy back to Ontario. On June 12th I am asking for you to vote for change and to vote for Rob Dekker so I can get working on fixing the problems our province and riding faces.

Yasir Naqvi

YASIR NAQVI, LIBERAL

It has truly been an honour to serve as the MPP for Ottawa Centre. Over the last seven years I have knocked on every door in the riding, from Centretown, the Glebe, Old Ottawa South, and everywhere in between. It is those conversations at the door and throughout the community that gives me a chance to speak to neighbours, hear their ideas, discuss solutions, bring people together, and build partnerships to complete projects that are important to Ottawa Centre.

Together, we have achieved real results – from investing in local schools like rebuilding Broadview Public School and building a permanent addition at Mutchmor Public School, strengthening community health care with the new Hintonburg Hub, expanding public transit with Phase one of the LRT, and cleaning up the Ottawa River.

We have come so far and we can’t stop here. With your support on June 12, I will continue working hard for this community on phase two of the LRT, reforming planning rules for more community-inspired development, and giving school boards more tools to invest in our urban schools.

Let’s keep building a better Ottawa Centre.

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